What Nikolaj Coster-Waldau Thinks Of Game Of Thrones' Legacy

Over the past several decades, HBO has unveiled a number of hit series that have become ingrained in popular culture. For example, it's been 15 years since the Holsten's outing of Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) cut to black, and fans are still contemplating his fate.

Another conclusion that incited some fierce reactions from viewers was that of "Game of Thrones," which wrapped up its eighth and final season in the spring of 2019. Many found the season to be poorly written and left plot holes open (via Harper's Bazaar), but the show's overall success can't be ignored.

In total, "Game of Thrones" was nominated for a whopping 160 Emmy Awards and took home 59, including for outstanding drama series in 2019. It also kickstarted a number of previously-unknown actors' careers, including Maisie Williams, who portrays Arya Stark, and Sophie Turner as her big sister Sansa.

The "Game of Thrones" universe is also expanding thanks to the prequel show "House of the Dragon," which tells the story of Daenerys Targaryen's (Emilia Clarke) ancestors and currently boasts a 93% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer. As reported by EW, there are a handful of other spinoffs allegedly in development, including untitled projects that focus on Jon Snow (Kit Harington), Flea Bottom, and more.

Despite its rather controversial ending, "Game of Thrones" is standing the test of time, with fans seeming to welcome new content with open arms. But what does the show's cast, including Jaime Lannister actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, think of its lasting legacy?

For eight seasons, right until his poetic demise alongside Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau plays her twin brother and lover. Out of all the characters, Jaime experiences one of the biggest arcs. He transitions from a pompous knight to a one-handed prisoner, all the while sharing details about his past — such as his sound reasoning for killing the Mad King — that make him a bit more human.

In 2020, a year after "Game of Thrones" came to an end, Coster-Waldau wasn't able to speak of the show's legacy just yet. He felt the true impact of it wouldn't be felt for another few years. However, being part of such a massive cultural phenomenon certainly made a positive impact on him.

He told Collider, "It was quite amazing that you go back to something for so long and I was never bored or like, 'Oh, now I've gotta go back to this?' Because of the nature of the story, the story changed. My character was such a great character, and he was always on a new journey, so I'm gonna miss that ... But at the same time, it's also a relief that it's over because it was time to move on. You don't wanna overstay your welcome."

With a fresh crop of Targaryens, Lannisters, and other houses of King's Landing making headlines for "House of the Dragon," Coster-Waldau is excited about this new cast and hopes they achieve similar success (via People). As they do, he'll be watching from the comfort of home as a fan. He told Screen Rant, "This is a new show and yeah, like everyone else, I'm gonna sit down and enjoy."